Hey Guys, my old mower broke so it is a nice excuse to get another one! yea! OK so I called ALL of the dealers around here and all I came up with is the Husqvarna/Walker/Wright dealer had a Husqvarna W3614 36" 14hp Kawasaki (recoil start) gear drive walk behind. Two blade, 10 ga. deck with 7 ga. skirt, 5 spd peerless tranny, 2 year full warranty (res. or commercial!) this has only 15 hours on it, slightly used, normal price of $2200, he will give it to me for $1500! What do you think? I'm going to bring it home today? I think to demo it, I'll let you know how I like it! How's it sound? The dealer really really wants to work with me and sell me this mower, super nice and wants my business and wants a happy customer. Sounds like a great deal. What do you guys say? Thanks!
Eric

PS I think this link gets you the mower http://www.usa.husqvarna.com/node234.asp then click on Turf Care Equipment and walk behind mowers, then W3614

odin

10-14-2002, 11:40 AM

eric

Since i dont know nothing about that mower i cant advise you to buy it or not.

I just wanted to wish you good luck and i hope it works out for ya

FrankenScagMachines

10-14-2002, 11:44 AM

Thanks, it looks good on the website and in the "Search" on LS. I don't know if it has a pressure lube or not though :( But it's a Kawi anyway :D
Like I said, I will probably go get it today and mow 1 1/2 acres with it to see if I like it (my lawn). I might get him to bring down the price or throw in a bagger and or mulch kit. This is just alittle out of my price range but I might be able to borrow some or sweet talk him into a $xxxx now, $xxx next year deal...
Thanks,
cya
Eric

HarryD

10-14-2002, 11:48 AM

I would say it probly is a vary good deal if there is a 2 year waranty on it . i myself have not used the husqvarna line of mowers but from looking at there web site they are built just like all the rest of the fixed deck WB's so I would say you cant go wrong for $1500

MacLawnCo

10-14-2002, 01:54 PM

eric,

do you have any PAYING clients? Of those how many just call you when they go on vacation? That leaves you with how many clients that you count on each week?

Im guessing that you have at best 3 weekly accounts including your parents lawn. WHY would YOU buy a mower to maintain your parents lawn???? Tell them that they need to buy the WB for you and then you will mow for them and anyone else that you may have contracted.

FrankenScagMachines

10-14-2002, 02:08 PM

Jason,
I have two weeklys plus my lawn. I probably will not use it to mow my lawn alot though. I have to have it for my weekly's. Also I have 4 that call on me occasionally. I am looking to expand next year as well so it will be good to already have the mower, as they are alot cheaper in fall and usually easier to find (although this was the only one I could find?). There is a local landlord with 17 houses I might get the job. I'll definately need a better mower for that. The dealer said if there are ever breakdowns he will have me a backup machine to use for free anytime. The dealer wants to work with me and get rid of this mower before winter so it does not have to sit around. I'll let you know how I like the mower and what is good/bad about it. I definately want a catcher for it and maybe mulch kit, and a Proslide or TrimmerTrap Bull Rider. I'll see what all accessories he has and what all I can get with it.
Later,
Eric

FrankenScagMachines

10-14-2002, 02:12 PM

Oh I didn't mention Jason, I have no other mower to use right now. I won't use my parent's Wheel Horse...

MacLawnCo

10-14-2002, 03:28 PM

Originally posted by BushHogBoy
Oh I didn't mention Jason, I have no other mower to use right now. I won't use my parent's Wheel Horse...

WON'T or CANT. Two different things. You will be much better off with a larger machine. 36 is piddly.

IBGreen

10-14-2002, 07:10 PM

I use Husqvarna equipment and just bought the WB you're talking about last year. It's great and for what you're doing it will be wonderful. Also when you add more accounts that machine will still keep up. It cuts great with the mulch kit and it will fit through any gate you would have to go through. A set of jungle wheels or Husqvarna's platform and you'll be pleased, I'd recommend the jungle wheels though!

Brandon Shaw
Evergreen Landscaping Concepts

IBGreen

10-14-2002, 07:28 PM

I use Husqvarna equipment and just bought the WB you're talking about last year. It's great and for what you're doing it will be wonderful. Also when you add more accounts that machine will still keep up. It cuts great with the mulch kit and it will fit through any gate you would have to go through. A set of jungle wheels or Husqvarna's platform and you'll be pleased, I'd recommend the jungle wheels though!

Brandon Shaw
Evergreen Landscaping Concepts

Brickman

10-14-2002, 07:50 PM

Well Eric I know exactly how you feel. Being with out a mower, this one seems like such a SWEET deal and all. But face it. You don't have the income to justify this mower. It all comes down to making a smart business decision. In the end it will be your decision and your money. I won't comment on the mower itself because I don't know about them. :(

I would suggest that for the rest of this season, which can't be much longer, you look into renting a mower for the two a week you do. Or check with another LCO in your area, he might have a little used unit he would let you use or rent for the remainder of the season. It would scare me to put this kind of money out without the income to back it up. If you can get some contracts (like the 17 units) then I would say RUN down there and get it. Go talk to the guy and see if you can get a contract if that is what you are wanting to do.

Does this mean i was right in saying the scag will never get done?
Yes it does seeing it is for sale some place else.

I personally have never driven a Husq mower only a 21 and a few saws but my dealers all dropped their lines. Something wrong with manu and warrany work.
Are you sacrificing quality for price. Instead of getting an exmark you are settling for this. It might be a good machine but with the acreage you are supposedly cutting sometimes a 36 is a long walk. And if you cant afford the mower why get it? Thinking of accesories before buying a mower cmon now think ahead. You will be wasting $$ on a mower now with two or less cuts left in the season.

FrankenScagMachines

10-14-2002, 08:19 PM

Well I demo'd it today (in the garage right now). It is a NICE mower with an awesome cut and good stripe. You can cut off 3" and it looks like you used a mulch kit when you're discharging! Flap down... flap up is about the same. I took it into my neighbor's abandoned pasture for some nitty gritty shitty work, lets say that was impressive too, cutting off about 2' tall crap the 14 Kawi didn't even notice it and the cut was still great! There was only ONE complaint.... it is not good on hillsides. Of course since I've never run a W/b (only ZTR's and tractor riders) before it's hard to tell what it should be like, but on my hills you can't keep it straight, sideways or up and down, and going down hill it's like a runaway freight train. Maybe the belts need tightened? I would not plan on using it on hills though really. I can adjust to it if I ever need to. The engine DOES have pressure/filter lube. The previous owner purchased the 4 year engine warranty (buy thier expensive oil and use it in it changing every 100 hours! and you get 4 year warranty!). It DOES NOT have an hourmeter but you can tell it looks new. The dealer only has it because the previous owner quit paying on it. So he didn't get to use it anymore. I hope that this will be alot more productive with a sulky vs. walking? It appears to be a good way to get exercise! I mowed a half acre with it and it does a very very nice job. I would really love to have this mower and as mentioned I plan on expanding ASAP too, which will probably not be until next year.
Oh yea, reverse ASSIST sucks! I don't even know why it's there! LOL a positive reverse would be helpful although I never really needed it.
I didn't see any reason why this mower is cheaper than any other walk behind (as new)...
Eric

Gravely_Man

10-15-2002, 02:08 PM

For the price it sounds like you couldn't go wrong but then again if you had problems with it on hills that might not be a good sign. I backup mower is always nice to have unless your dealer has one for you. I am a firm believer that you can never have too many mowers…at least until the wife complains.